Waist mounted hose and cord puller

ABSTRACT

A fastener is connected to a waist belt. A collar is connected to a hose near its working end. The hose is clipped into the fastener. The collar locks the hose onto the belt to enable the worker to haul the hose around using his hips rather than his arms and back.

CROSS REFERENCE APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application claiming the benefitsof provisional application No. 61/077,280 filed Jul. 1, 2008.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to attaching an end of a hose to aworker's belt in order to drag the hose to a new location.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The closet known prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 2,388,811 (1945) to Zatko. Awelder wears a utility belt. The utility belt has a ring fastened to it.The welder's electric cord is cinched with a tether that includes a snaphook. The snap hook is fastened to the ring on the belt. The welder candrag his cord behind him. Zatko is addressing the convenience ofcontrolling the cord and its electric clamp during the welding operationas he shows in FIG. 1. He does not address the need to drag a cord orhose long distances, with the cord or hose securely attached to theworker's waist at the base of the worker's spine.

What is needed in the art is a secure and removable fastening means fora cord or hose end to attach to a worker's belt at the base of his spineto enable dragging a rather cumbersome load across a yard or the like.

The present invention solves this long sought need with a work belthaving a D ring fastened at the rear/center of the belt. A collar isfastened to the cord/hose end. The cord/hose is snapped into the D ringthereby attaching the collar above the D ring. The worker can apply astrong pressure using his hips to drag the cord/hose from the base ofhis back.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main aspect of the present invention is to provide a work belt witha clip and a hose/cord with a collar that slips over the clip to enablepulling the hose/cord via the work belt.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a multi-diameterfitting for the collar.

Another aspect is to provide a shoulder strap option for the waist belt.

Another aspect is to provide a multi-purpose work belt with the pullingring attached.

Other aspects of this invention will appear from the followingdescription and appended claims, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein likereference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a lady using the invention to waterthe lawn.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the collar.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the collar being attached to a hose.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative collar having a reducerto accommodate narrow cords or hoses.

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of an alternative embodiment shoulderharness version.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a work belt with a holster and otherclips.

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the preferred embodiment used withan air hose for a paint gun.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the D ring in use.

FIG. 10 is the same view as FIG. 9 with the D ring reversed for use withan extension cord.

FIG. 11 is a side perspective view of a collar embodiment with a hinge.

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the FIG. 11 embodiment with thecollar open.

FIG. 13 is a partial cutaway view of an alternate embodiment collar.

FIG. 14 is the same view as FIG. 13 with the collar.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the FIG. 13 embodiment in use.

FIG. 16 is a partial cutaway view of an alternate embodiment collar.

Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention indetail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in itsapplication to the details of the particular arrangement shown, sincethe invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminologyused herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring first to FIG. 1 the worker 1 is wearing a belt 2 that includesa retaining strap 3. The retaining strap 3 provides a short runway R fora clip on fastener 4 (a D ring is preferred).

The garden hose 5 has been fitted with a collar 6 near its working end7. When the worker walks forward in direction F the hose 5 is draggedbehind her by means of the collar 6 wedging against the fastener 4. Therunway R provides for a limited angular torque behind the worker 1 asshe changes direction. This system allows the worker to use her legsinstead of her arms to drag a heavy hose the entire length of the hose 5even when the hose 5 is full of water as shown. Small fire hoses can bemoved by firemen in this same manner.

Referring next to FIG. 2 the entire waist drag system is labeled 20. Thebelt 2 preferably has a buckle 21 that accommodates hook and loop ends22, 23. Each end 22, can come off the buckle 21 to slip on various toolholsters as seen in FIG. 7.

The fastener 4 is a D ring type having a narrowed inner end 44 and anopposing wide inner end 43. A hinge 41 is spring loaded to keep the gate42 closed.

The collar 6 has halves 61, 62 joined by at least one bolt (not shown)with a screw handle(s) 24 to tighten the halves 61, 62 together. Thediameter of the hole 63 is slightly smaller than the diameter of thehose 5 so the collar 6 doesn't slip on the hose 5 after installation.

Referring next to FIG. 3 the collar assembly 30 consists of halves 61,62 held together by bolts 31, 32 with nuts 33. A wing style handle 34 orknob 24 (FIG. 2) is optional. The spacer 35 fits in hole 63 to provide asmaller hole 36 suited for extension cords or small air hoses.

FIG. 4 shows the hose 5 being placed in hole 63. Bolt 32 has not yetbeen placed in hole 40 for tightening halves 61, 62 together. Designchoice could use hole 40 as a threaded nut to eliminate nuts 33 of FIG.3.

In FIG. 5 the spacer 35 has had extension cord 50 slipped in slot 51into hole 36. By tightening knob 24 the extension cord 50 is locked intocollar assembly 30.

Referring next to FIG. 6 shoulder/belt assembly 600 consists of a belt610 with a strap 3 to hold fastener 4 as in FIG. 2. Shoulder straps 620can assist a fireman to haul a heavy hose (not shown).

Referring next to FIG. 7 the utility belt 70 has an additional ringfastener 72 fastened by a strap 71. A holster 73 is threaded thru end 23before the buckle 21 is attached. Thus, a tool such as a spray gun couldbe hung from hook 74.

Referring next to FIG. 8 the painter 80 is standing on a ladder to paintthe house 82. The belt 2 and collar assembly 30 is supporting hoses 83,84 which are connected to spray gun 85. The painter 80 could use theholster 73 of FIG. 7 to aid his control of equipment.

In FIG. 9 the hose 5 rests in the wider space 43 of fastener 4. But inFIG. 10 no collar is needed for extension cord 50. The fastener uses thewider space 43 to lock onto the strap 3. The narrow space 44 serves towedge the female cord receptacle 100 therein.

Thus, a gardener can haul the hedge clipper extension cord 50 all overthe lawn. No collar need be attached to the extension cord.

Referring next to FIGS. 11, 12 a collar 1100 has the central hole 1120which could be fitted with the spacer 35 of FIG. 3. The halves 1101,1102.

A lock means 1105 consists of the flap 1105 connects to half 1101 withits tongue 1107 which snaps into the groove 1106 of half 1102. Not shownare many design equivalents including handles 24 with bolts and/orvarious equivalent locks. The hinge helps the user to quickly attach thehose without dropping parts on the ground.

Referring next to FIGS. 13, 14 15 a sliding collar 1300 consists of a Ushaped base 1301 having a semi-circular head 1302 and legs 1306, 1307.Each leg 1306, 1307 has teeth 1308 on which slides the sliding collarhalf 1304. Spring loaded release buttons 1305 can be squeezed to releasethe collar half 1304 from teeth 1308, thereby forming the hole 1303.Hole 1303 clasps the hose 1401 with arrows open O and close C indicatingthe movement of collar half 1304. The spring 1450 biases the releasebuttons 1305 outbound. Arrows S for squeeze in FIG. 14 show the releasebuttons 1305 pushed inward to release collar teeth 1600 from base teeth1308 to enable moving the collar half 1304.

In FIG. 16 a hose clamp 1600 has fixed half 1601 with legs 1602, 1603that slide in channels 1606, 1605 in moving half 1604. A hole 1303 isformed like the hole 1303 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 13. Channels1605, 1606 have nubs 1617, 1618 serving as pivot points when handles1610, 1611 are squeezed into each other to the release mode shown by thearrows Release. In the Release mode teeth 1615, 1616 allowing the movinghalf 1604 to move in either the open or closed position shown by arrowsO and C. The locked position shown has the locking teeth 1615, 1616locked into teeth 1700 at a desired position via the straight shapes oflegs 1602, 1603.

Although the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be madeand still the result will come within the scope of the invention. Nolimitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein isintended or should be inferred. Each apparatus embodiment describedherein has numerous equivalents.

1. A waist drag system comprising: a belt having a rear/center section;said rear/center section mountable against a base of a user's back; afastener ring attached to the rear/center section; a collar having twohalves forming an adjustable diameter center mounting hole for a hose orcord; a fastening means functioning to tighten the collar halvestogether around the hose or cord; and wherein the collar having the hoseor cord tightened in the center mounting hole wedges against thefastener ring, thereby enabling the user to drag the hose or cord behindhim using his waist.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein therear/center section of the belt further comprises a retaining strap onwhich the fastener ring slides.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein thefastener ring further comprises a D ring with a narrowed inner endslidable in the retaining strap, and an opposing wider end upon whichthe collar is wedged, and further having a spring loaded hinged gate toenable attaching/detaching from the retaining strap.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 3, wherein the belt further comprises a buckle that accommodates afirst and a second look and loop end, wherein accessories can bethreaded onto the first and second end before the buckle is attached tothe first and the second end.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thefastening means further comprises a bolt having a screw handle totighten the halves together using a nut.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5,wherein the center mounting hole further comprises a spacer having acenter hole and a longitudinal slot suited to receive an extension cord.7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a shoulder harnessconnected to the belt to assist in hauling a heavy hose in the collar.8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the belt further comprises aholster with a look suited to support a tool.
 9. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the fastening means further comprises a flap having a tonguefitting into a groove which is opposite a hinge adjoining the twohalves.
 10. A waist drag system comprising: a belt means functioning tosupport a rear/center section against a base of a user's back; afastener means attached to the rear/center section functioning to wedgea retaining collar means thereto; said retaining collar meansfunctioning to affix to an end of a hose/card; and wherein saidretaining collar and hose/cord are dragged directly behind the user asthe user walks forward.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein thefastener means further comprises a D ring with a narrowed inner endfastened to the belt means.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein theretaining collar further comprises a pair of collar halves forming acenter hole.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the belt meansfurther comprises a retaining strap attached to the rear center sectionwhich supports the D ring.
 14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein theretaining collar means further comprises a U shaped base having two legswith teeth, a sliding collar half releasably mounted across the twolegs, and the sliding collar half having a pair of spring loaded buttonsreleasably locking on the teeth.
 15. The apparatus of claim 10, whereinthe retaining collar means further comprises a U shaped base having twolegs with teeth, a sliding collar half releasably mounted across the twolegs, and the sliding collar half having a locking tooth in each of itschannels that receive the legs, wherein squeezing a handle at each legend toward one another releases the locking tooth to enable moving thesliding collar half to a desired position.
 16. A method to drag a hose,said method comprising the steps of: attaching a belt around a user'swaist; forming a retaining strap on the belt at a rear/center sectionthereof, attaching a D ring to the retaining strap using a narrowed endof the D ring to slide on the retaining strap; attaching a collar to aworking end of a hose; snapping the hose into the D ring with the collarand working end on one side of the D ring; and having the user walkforward thereby wedging the collar against the D ring and dragging thehose directly behind the user.